Brush



Nav. 29, 1932. o, u, z-ERK 1,889,394

BRUSH med sept. 8, 1981 8 sheets-sheet 1 O. U. ZERK Nqv. 29, 1932.

BRU/SH Filed Sept. 8, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet' 2 l i INVENTOR. 0MM. U ZM ATTORNEYS.

O'. U. ZERK Nav. 29, 1932.

BRUSH Filed Sept. 8, 1951 `s sheets-sheet Fia /5 ATTORNEYS'.

Patented Nov. 29, 1932 N ETE srares OSCAR TJ'.V ZE'RK, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO BRUSH Application led September 8, 1931. Serial No. 561,545.

This invention relates to brushes and more particularly to brushes used for cleaning purposes in connection with cleaning liquids and under conditions Wherev the bristles of the brush may spatter the cleaning liquid. Y

Typical of such uses of brushes is the use for cleaning the lingers and finger nails for toilet purposes, and with soapy Water.

I therefore have illustrated and described my invention herein as applied to finger and finger nail brushes.

As is Well known, the vigorous use of a 1inger nail brush spatters the soapy YWater undesirably and not only deposits it around the basin or upon themirror adjacent the basin rendering them messy and unsightly, but unless exceedingly great care is exercised will spatter upon the clothing of the user entailing otherwise unnecessary cleaning expense.

Heretofore, nail brushes have been pro posed provided With guides of varioustypes for directing the application of the brush bristles to the eXtreme ends of the fingers or under the' nails, but these have been inconvenient to use and decidely limited in their application, and havev had little or noeffect in restraining or stopping the spattering of the bristles. Y

In my present invention, I employ preferably an elongated brush Which may be relatively moved reciprocatorily over the iinger nails or other parts of the body to be cieaned, and, generally at the ends of the brush, I have provided splash shields or spatter shields to catch the soapy Water which spatters from the bristles in use. And in or- ,der to permit the brush to be moved a free, relatively long stroke, or to permit the fingers or hand to be so moved on the brush, I have arranged the shields so that they will yield when the hand or fingers come in contact With them at the end of the stroke in either directio-n.

Furthermore, I have found that a yielding or substantially hinging shield if yield.-

bending radii and so that their resistance to moving will be least at the beginning of their yielding movement, and by the use of relatively strong retractive springs for the shields; this prevents overthrow and consequent throiving of the soapy Water collected on the inner surfaces of the shield, but on-the contrary prevents loss of contact between the shields and the hand of the user on outward movements of the shields.

While in some aspects my invention contemplates employment of spatter shields entirely encompassing the brush bristles, I have found that the spatter may be effectively bafrled by shields disposed only at the ends of the brush inasmuch as substantially all of the spatter talzes place in the direction of movement of the brush or of the hand on the brush reciprocatorily in use.

In order to extend the use of the brush of my invention I prefer to provide spatter shields which may be moved to a spatterbafiing position at the ends of the brush and which may also be moved out of that position and into a non-functioning position when the brush is to be used for brushing relatively flat smooth surfaces, or in conditions Where the spatter may be harmless.

, In this connection, in the preferred form of my invention, the shield may be rotated or rocked to arecumbent position on the back of the brush. Y

Furthermore, I prefer to employ a spring or other resilient mechanismv by Which the shields may be moved with a snap movement from the spatter-battling position to the recumbent position on the back of the brush, and vice versa.

To render the brush pleasing' and attractive in appearance, l prefer to seat the brush proper in a housing made from metal which may be polish-ed and to hinge the spatterbattling shields thereupon and to enclose the operating mechanism in the housing by a completely invisible construction.

It is therefore one of the objects of my invention to provide a brush provided at its opposite ends with spatt-er-baitling means.

Another object of my invention is to provide an elongated brush adapted to be reciprocated in use longitudinally or upon which the lingers may be reciprocated and provided with spatter-baiiling means at the opposite longitudinal ends of the brush.

Another object is to provide a brush construction comprising a brush proper seated in a housing of highly polished metal provided with hinged spatter shields at the opposite ends thereof which may be moved with a snap-action from spatter-baftling position to a recumbent position on the back of the housing by means of a resilient mechanism within the housing.

Another object is to provide a brush of the class referred to having longitudinally oppositely disposed spatter-bafding shields and in which the shields will yield resiliently upon contact therewith of the fingers or hands of the operator.

Another object is to provide, for brushes of the class described, a quickly detachable housing-like cover irovided with hinged spatter-bafliing shields.

Another object is to provide a brush of the class referred to having spatter-baflling shields at the opposite ends thereof adapted to yie d upon contact therewith of the hand or other part of the body being cleaned, and constructed to effect a relatively slow retractive movement after such yielding displacement.

Another object is to provide a brush of the class referred to seated in a cup-like casing whereby a chamber mayv be provided in the closed end or bottom of the casing and sealed water-tight at its juncture with the brush and whereby buoyancy sufficient to float the brush land the casing may be obtained.

Other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which my invention appertains.

My invention is fully disclosed in the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a brush embodying my invention, with spattershields which l may employ disposed in one operative position;

Fig. 2 is a view of the brush of Fi 1 with the spatter-sliields in another operative position;

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the brush of Figs. 1 and 2 with one spatter-shield thereof in one position and another in another position;

Fig. l is an end elevational view of the embodiment of Fig. 2;

5 is a cross-sectional view taken approximately from the plane 5 of F iff. 3;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken from the plane 6 of Fig. 3 with parts back of the section plane omitted for simplicity;

Fig. 7 is a view taken from the plane 7 of Fig. l;

Fig. 8 is a view taken from the plane 8 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 9 is a View taken from the plane 9 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 10 isa view taken from the plane 10 of Fig. 2, the view being sectional and with parts omitted for simplicity;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary view of a part shown in Fig. 3;

Figs. 12 and 18 are, respectively, side perspective and end perspective views of the embodiment of my invention of the preceding figures illustrating a mode of operation thereof;

Fig. 14- is a view simil-ar to Fig. 2 but showing a modification;

Fig. 15 is a view taken from the top plan of Fig. 14e.

Referring now to the different figures of drawing in all of which like parts are designated by like reference characters, and referring first to the f rst embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 9 inclusive, l provide a brush having a back 2 and bristles 3, the latter being arranged in small bunches, each projecting in parallel relation from a face of the back, and held in spaced recesses l which are interspersed over the face of the said back. Each bunch of bristles is held in place in its particular recess by wires or threads 5 or in any other suitable manner, well known in this ancient art. The bristles are all preferably trimmed as illustrated to provide a substantially plane brushing surface 3.

The back 2, in the embodiment of my invention illustrated, is of rectangular elongated form having a rear face (i and a brushing operative face 7, said bristles projecting from the latter face 7 rllhe above relates to the elements of a hand or nail brush of the common type previously in use and to further improve such a brush I apply instrumentalities whose description follows.

Over the back 2 I apply a. sheet metal casing 9 which is in the form of a cup of preferably substantially rectangular outline whose side walls are inwardly deflected toprovide longitudinally extending shallow grooves 10 adapted for engagement by the operating head of the user so as to afford a firm grasp upon the brush between the fingers and thumb While in use, in the manner best shown in Figs. 12 and 13. 1

The peripheral shape and size of the brush back 2 is so made that it Will lit into the cupshaped casing 9,' and is firmly secured in the casing by a plurality such as four screws 11--11projected through suitable bores in the four corners of the brush bac.; 2 and threaded into nuts 12--12 in the corners of the casing 9. The nuts 12 are preferably dome type With one end ofthe thread thereof closed, and are preferably soldered into position in the casing, and the screws 11 are preferably provided with countersunk heads flush with the face 7 of the brush back.

The long sides of the brush back are chamfered or formed as shown at 13`to conform to and fit the grooves 10 whereby, -when the screws 11 are drawn up tight, the brush b.l ck 2 is not onlystopped upon the Walls of the Orroove 10 to accurately posit on it in the caslng 9, but the back 2 also makes Watertight joint with the groove Walls to prevent the entrance of Water into the cup-shaped casing 9 When the brush is in use. 'lf he ends of the brush back 2, as for example at 1d, Fig. 3, preferably fit 'tightly in the corresponding end Walls 15 of the casing; and desired, rubber packing of any suitable design may be disposed between the back 2 and the inner Wall or Walls of the easing 9 to further render the juncture of the wack and the Wall Water-tight.

Thus not only may Water'be kept ont of the casing 9 in the closed portion thereof not occupied bythe brush back, but the casing being thereby rendered a closed chamber, will give buoyancy to the brush causing it to fio'at in vvatervvith the Well known attendant advantages. Y Y

In a manner to be more fully described, the casing has hinged thereto a pair of splash shields 165-16, adapted to take up two operative positions. The shields 16 entend transversely across the opposite ends of the brush and extend below or beyond the end of the bristles 3 and are transversely of greater dimension than the transverse extent of the bristle surface 3. When the shields 16 are in this position, Figs. 1, 2 and 13, they serve to stop the spattering Water, Water and soap suds and the like, which may be used on the brush When it is employed to clean the fingers and nails, which operation is illustrated in Figs. 12 and-13.

In this position, the shields 16 are maintained resiliently toward the adjacent end of the brush and Will yield when engaged by the fingers or hand being cleaned, one of the shields being illustrated in a yielding position in Fig. 12. i

When the brush is being us d for cleaning parts or surfaces to be cleaned and yunder conditions Where it is either unnecessary or undesirable to stop the spatteringv from the bristles, the shields 16 may be rotated around upon the back of the casing 9 to the position illustrated in Figs.v 2 and 8, and resiliently maintained in that position. Itis also an advantage that the shields 16 may be moved to the position of Fig. 2 When the brush is not in use and when it is being transported as in a traveling bag.

The mechanism, construction and manner of assembling the elements by which the above described functions of the shields 16 may be effected will novv be described.

Substantially on the cent-er line of the casing 9 and at opposite ends thereof, are provided a pair of hinge chambers 18-18 eX- tending transversely over only a. portion of the end of the casing and projecting outwardly diagonally therefrom. The chambers 18 communicate with the interior of the cuplike casing 9. The shields 16, Which preferably are alike, are formed from sheet metal, are generally rectilinear in form With rounded corners, and are generally planular With a Wire 19 rolled into the peripheral edge of the shields. At one end of the shield it is cut away as at 20, Fig. 8, to clear or embrace the adjacent portions of the hinged chambers 18 when the shield is in the position illustrated in Figs. 8 and 2, and When rotating vto the position of Fig.1, and the peripheral Wire of the shield extends into the cut-away portion 2O as at 21 and 22, these portions of the Wire serving as trunnion hinge elements; and the hinge chambers 18 are provided with axially aligned sleeve portions 23-23 into Which the hinge elements 21 and 22 are telescopically disposed and in which they rotate as in sleeve bea-rings. v The trunnion hinge element 22 extends farther into the chamber 18 than the trunnion element 21 and has secured on the end thereof a crank head 24 provided `With an eccentrically disposed pin 25 terminating in a retaining head 26.

Both o-f the shields 16 are thus hingedly mounted by means of the trunnions 21 and 22 in sleeve bearings in the opposite Walls of the hinge chambers 18, and by means ofthis bearing construction may be rotated from` the position of Fig. 2 to that of Fig. 1, and vice versa. A helical spring 28 is disposed in the casing 9 between the face 6 of the brush and the bottom Wall of the cup-like housing, and extends longitudinally therethrough throughout the length of the housing and at lits opposite ends has hook portions 2.9-29

hooked over the eccentrically disposed pins 25-25 of thev heads 2lb-24.

The pins 25 are disposed substantially in `alane with the hinge elements 21 and 22 and With the shields 16, and between these hinge elements and the main body portions of the shields 16 so that the spring 28 Will resiliently maintain the shields 16, when in the position of Fig. 1, against movement away from the ends or" the brush, and when the shields are rotated to the position of Fig.

2, will resiliently maintain them liat upon the back of the housing 9. In Fig. 3, one of the shields 1G is illustrated in the. position Fig. l and the other in the position ol:l F 2; and in these positions the action ol' 'the spring 28 upon the eceentrically disposed pins is clearly illustrated.

11s hereinbe'fore stated, the hinge chambers 18 may be associated with the casing 9 in a water-tight manner, but if desired, perforz tions -30 may be provided in the walls of the chambers 18, whereby water which may f lind its way into the housing 9 may be drained out, or may be blown out by blowing into one of perforations7 the water linding an exit through the other perforation.

'l1 he forni of the several parts hereinbefore described may be variously modiiied, and the assembl ot the several parts may be carried ont accordingly. llowever, l prefer to proceed in the assembly of the several parts as follows.

rEhe hinge chambers 18 are preferably press-termed from sheet metal and the sleeve bearing 23 thereof completely formed therein. rllhe chambers are then projected outwardly from within the casing 9 to the positions illustrate( through suitably provided jreitorations in the end walls 15 and bottom portion of the cup-like casing 9, and the periphery of the perforation soldered to maire a neat and water-tight joint. rEhe material ot the casing 9 and chambers 1S is t'erably one which will admit of polishtreatment and these parts when thus far assembled may, at this stage, be polished.

The wires 19 which are later to be rolled in supporting heads Q4; are then chambers 18 and secured upon e trunnion hinge elements 22- Q2, care being .u "L

` had to dispose the pins 25 in t wi h the alane ot the shields 16. w l

neaos Q4 to secure them to the hinge elements 22, may be soldered thereto at this The spring 2S is then hoolred over the pins 25 and thereafter the brush bach 2 is inserted into 'the casing 9 and secured therein by the screws 11.

1t will be observed that the brush, as well as the spring 28, may be renewed at any time by removal of the screws 11.

Preferably l provide the walls ot' the chambers 18 with extensions 35 extending inwardly along the bottom of the casing 9, these eX- tensions being curved conveXly longitudinally of the casing and concavely transversely thereof to provide a suitable guide of relatively large radius upon which the spring 28 may rest or slide to render its movement tree in the operation ol the shields, and to direct the hook ends of the spring upward diagonally into the chambers 18.

in Figs. 111- and 15 I have shown a modification in which the length of the brush is relatively short as may be desired when the brush is to be carried in a small toilet bag or shaving outlit, or when it is to be manufactured especially for ladies use.

As will be observed, there is a minimum length "for the shields 1G which will effectively stop the spattering of soapy water in the use of the brush as illustrated in Fig. 12; and the brush of the above c eseribed form is preferably made o'l'I sulicient length that the two shields may lie in a plane on the back ol' the casing as illustrated in lli 2. llVhen a short brush is employed, shields /lO-lO of substantially the same length as the shields 1G are employed, but are, when the shields are disposed. on the back ot the brush, arranged to lie in junta-position thereupon. To this end., the bearings in one ot the bearing chambers such as the chamber Ll1, F ig. 1d, are disposed more distant from the casing L13 than the bearings in 'the chamber 112, thus permitting the two shields L l0-l() to lie ilat one upon the other.

in both oi the embodiments oi"- my invention described above, l have provided outwardly extending projections 3T and 38 at the ends of the respect-ive casings 9 and 13 respectively, said projections forming stops for the splash shields when rotated to their operating positions. Thee-1 stops maintain said shields in planes normal to the plane oi" the brush back.

its further feature of improvement for the embodiment illustrated in F 8 to 15 inclusive, and which will be readily understood to be also applicable to the ilrst described embodiment of my invention, l provide a preferably sheet metal cover 3G, whose end walls are provided with recesses, or as shown openings adapted to lit over the projections 38 to retain the cover in position over the brush bristles.

Preferably the cover 36 will be given a highly polished metallic or other desirable ornamental appearance suitable 'to the appearance of the casing i3 and the parts carried thereby including the shields.

Having thus described my invention in certain embodiments, I am aware that numerous and extensive departures maybe made ient yieldable means to either maintain the Wings in a position overlapping and extending beyond the free ends of the bristles, or

in a position above the bristle 'free ends.

2. A brush comprising a back and bristles and a pair of Wings hinged to the back and hingingly movable from a mid position to a position overlapping and extending. beyond the free ends of the bristles or to a position above the bristle free ends, and resilient means reacting upon a Wing to move it to either position when correspondingly displaced from the mid position.

3. A brush comprising a back and bristles and a pair of Wings hinged to the back and hingingly movable from a mid position to a position overlapping and extending beyond the free ends of the bristles, or to a position above the bristle free ends, and a single resilient means reacting upon both Wings to move them to either position when correspondingly displaced from the mid position.

Ll. A brush comprising a back and bristles and a pair of Wings hinged to the back, cranks associated with the hinged part of the Wings and resilient yieldable means associated With the cranks to either maintain the Wings in a position overlapping and extending beyond the bristle free ends or in a position above the bristle free ends and on the back of the brush.

5. A brush comprising a back and bristles and a pair of Wings hinged to the back, cranks associated With the hinged part of the Wings and yieldable means associated With the cranks to either maintain the Wings in a position overlapping and extending beyond Athe bristle free ends, or in a stopped position above the bristle free ends, end stop means for stopping the Wings in their last said po-v sition.

6. In combination, a brush comprising a back and bristles, a meta-l casing covering the back and a pair of spatter shields hinged to the casing, said shields adapted to overlie said back when in one position, and means concealed in said casing to maintain said .shields in generally parallel positions extending in directions generally normal to the overlapping and extending beyond the ends of the bristles.

v8. In combination, a brush comprising a back and'bristles, aV metal casing covering the back and a pair of spatter shields hinged to the casing, mechanism concealed in the casing including resilient means reacting upon the shields and resiliently maintaining them in spatter shielding position extending beyond the ends of the bristles.

9. In combination, a brush comprising a back and bristles, a cup-like metal casing covering the back, a pair of spatter shields hinged to Vthe casing, hingingly movable from a spatter intercepting position at substantially oppositely disposed end portions of the brush overlapping and extending beyond the ends ofthe bristles through a mid position to a position on the casing back above the bristles, and resilient means concealed in the casing reacting on a shield to move it to one said position or the other` when correspondingly displaced from said mid position.

` l0. In combination, a brush comprising a back and bristles, a cup-like metal casing covering the back, a pair of spatter shields hinged to the casing, hingingly movable from a spatter intercepting position at substantially oppositelyy disposed end portions of the brush overlapping and extending beyond the bristle free ends through a mid position to a position above the bristle free ends, and resilient means concealed in the casing reacting on a shield to move it to onesaid position or the other When correspondingly displaced from said mid position.

1l. In combination, a brush comprising a backV and bristles, a cup-like metal casing covering the back, a pair of spatter shields hinged to the casing hingedly movable from a spatter intercepting position at substantially oppositely disposed end portions of the brush overlapping and extending beyond the bristle tree ends ,through a mid position to au position above the bristle free ends, and resilient means comprising a single spring reacting on both shields to move them to one said position or the other when correspondingly displaced from said mid position.

12. A bristle brush comprising a back portion and a pair of spatter shields pivotally mounted on the back portion and pivotally movable from a position in Which they overlap and extend beyond the free ends of the bristles to a recumbent position substantially in a common plane on the back portion.

13. A bristle brush comprising a back portion and a pair of spatter shields pivotally mounted on the back portion at spaced points thereon and pivot-ally movable from a position in Which they overlap and their free ends extend beyond the free ends of the bristles to'a 'recumbent position substantially in a commonv plane on the back portion, and the length of `the shields being such that when in recumbent position their free ends are in confronting relation.

14. A bristle brush comprising abackpor- Ation and a pair of spatter shields pivotally 'mounted on the back portion at spaced points thereon and pivotally movable from a position in which they overlap and their free ends extend beyond the free ends of the bristles to a recumbent position on the back portion and the length of the shields being such that When in recumbent position their fre-e ends overlap each other.

15. 1n combination, a brush comprising a back and bristles and a polished metal cover covering the back, and polished metal spatter shields pivoted at substantially oppositely disposed portions of the cover and extending beyond and overlapping the ends of the bristles, and pivotally removable from the bristle overlapping position, and means to extending beyond the free ends of the bristles,

and resilient means for maintaining the shields against substantially opposite stop portions of the cover when in said overlapping position.

18. In combination, a brush comprising a back and bristles, a metal cover on the back comprising substantially oppositely disposed spaced cover portions, a pair of metal spatter shields hinged to the said portions, overlap- .ping and extending beyond the free ends of the bristles, and resilient means for maintaining the shields against substantially oppositely disposed stop portions of the cover when in said overlapping position, the stop `portions being disposed between the free ends of the shields and their hinging connection with the cover portions.

19. As an article of manufacture, a cuplilre metal housing adapted to receive the back .ot' a bristle brush, a pair of Wings hinged to spaced substantially oppositely disposed portions ot the housing, resilient means secured to the Wings to constrain the Wings toward each other in position to overlap and extend Ibeyond the ends of bristles on the brush back.

20. As an article of manufacture, a cup-like metal housing adapted to receive the back of a bristle brush, a pair of Wings hinged to spaced substantially oppositely disposed portions of the housing, resilient means secured to the Wings to constrainthe Wings toward each other inposition to overlap'and extend beyond the ends of bristles'onthe brush back, the resilient mechanism being disposed in the housing.'

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature this d'ayof September, 1931.

@SCAR U. ZERK.

ICOf 

